This is one of the no-brainers on the list. The Bluetooth 3.0 specification will be released this year and devices will start to hit the shelves by 2010. At this point, it’s expected that the 3.0 spec will include faster speeds, reportedly transferring files at 480 megabits per second in close proximity and 100 megabits per second at 10 meters. It will also feature an ultra-low-power mode that Gartner predicts will enable new peripherals, sensors, and applications, such as health monitoring. The technology will be backwards compatible, allowing old devices to communicate with new ones, so there’s no reason for it not take off in the upcoming years.
Archive for the ‘Technology’ category
New Bluetooth 3.0
December 8th, 2009The World’s First Programmable Quantum Computer
November 24th, 2009With only a few intense lasers, electrodes and some ultracold ions, researchers at the University of Sussex in Brighton, England, have been able to build the first programmable quantum computer.
What makes this experiment different is that this new system is able to perform more than 150 random processing routines.
The new study is “a powerful demonstration of the technological advances towards producing a real-world quantum computer,” says quantum physicist Winfried Hensinger of the University of Sussex in Brighton, England. The researchers, led by David Hanneke of the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Boulder, Colo. built the computer based on two cooled beryllium ions with a temperature of just above zero.
The ions formed the quantum bits, or qubits, analogous to the bits in normal computers represented by 0s and 1s, and were trapped by a magnetic field on a gold-plated aluminum chip. To perform the processing operations, short laser bursts were used to manipulate the beryllium ions. Magnesium ions kept the beryllium ions stationary, and from getting hot. It is believed that this system may be applied to larger-scale systems.
The system built was mostly experimental, but what is important is the fact that the principal may be applied on a larger scale, and therefor become practical.
Good News for Book Lovers: eBook Reader
November 11th, 2009You can go anywhere, just take a look, it’s in a book. From the African jungles in Michael Crichton’s Congo to the farmlands of China in Pearl S. Buck’s The Good Earth to right at home with the magazine Martha Stewart Living, books expand horizons. We’ve all heard since shows like Wishbone and Reading Rainbow that books have the power to take us anywhere. One library, so many possibilities.
What to Look for in an eBook Reader
Most people only know Kindle. But there is a variety of eBook readers available, some with other features that may be more attractive than the Kindle. Here are the factors we considered to effectively compare these electronic books.
- Features: From touchscreens to LED backlights to the Read to Me feature on the Kindle 2, there are a lot of features that will help your eBook reader disappear so it’s just you and the text. Features like the touchscreen, screen size and type and the wireless capabilities were given more weight.
- Content: Some of the eBook readers have hundreds of thousands of titles available from a dedicated service while others can support a few files found on the internet. We rated the number of content available for the device and how many different types of book files each device can support.
- Value: We rated the price over the features set. Does the price really reflect the number of important features you are getting?
- Tech Support: With every electronic device there is a potential for problems, or you may really spill your coffee on it. Before you purchase an eBook reader, know what kind of support you can expect.
The best eBook readers will have a good combination of each of these and will disappear as you read, just like a normal book would.
Optical meter with latest laser exploration launched
November 2nd, 2009
GAO COMM has launched its integrated optical power meter using the latest laser exploration and processing technology.It is aimed at servicing optical network maintenance, equipment research and development. This high performance optical power meter is widely used to test LANs, wide-area networks (WANs), metropolitan networks, CATV or long-distance fiber networks.
The portable optical power meter, model 800, tests optical power within the wavelength ranges of 800nm to1600nm in μW, dB and dBm. It is able to distinguish fiber type, accurately test fiber loss, check fiber continuity and evaluate the transmission quality of a fiber chain. This easy-to-use optical power meter supports both linearity and non-linearity tests, as well as fiber optic power.The tester has a high resolution LCD screen for direct, clear results display. FC, ST and SC adapters are available.
how can we maximize the battery performance?
November 2nd, 2009Daily Usage Threat
- If you have a new battery (A new laptop) it comes in a discharged condition and must be charged before use. Upon initial use (or after prolonged storage period) the battery may require two to three charge/discharge cycles before achieving maximum capacity.
- Do not leave your battery dormant for long periods of time. It’s recommend using the battery at least once every two to three weeks. If a battery has not been used for a long period of time, perform the new battery procedure described at above point.
- If the battery is not going to be used for more than a month, it is recommended that it be removed from the device and stored in a cool, dry, clean place.It is normal for a battery to become warm during charging and discharging.A charged battery will eventually lose its charge if unused. It may therefore be necessary to recharge the battery after a storage period.
- Keep Your Batteries Clean, it’s a good idea to clean dirty battery contacts with a cotton swab and alcohol. This helps maintain a good connection between the battery and your laptop.
- Charging Threat
If you, on a regular basis, fully charge your battery and then use only 50% of its capacity before the next recharge, eventually the battery will become unaware of it’s extra 50% capacity which has remained unused. Your battery will remain functional, but only at 50% of its original capacity.
The way to avoid the dreaded “memory effect” is to fully cycle your battery at least once every month. Batteries can be discharged by unplugging the device’s AC adapter and letting the device run on the battery until it ceases to function. This will ensure your battery remains healthy. Ni-Mh and Li-Ion batteries do not suffer the memory effect.
